Assessed value of Portland property automatically increases 3% per year. This translates into an automatic 3% increase in total property taxes per year. The average 2010 $159,393 Portland assessed value property will automatically increase to $164,175 in 2011. That translates into an automatic increase of $103 at the 2010 property tax rate of $21.48/thousand assessed value paid by most Portland property owners without additions.

However, there are three additions to the total property rate in 2011.
1. Oregon Historical Society .05/thousand
2. Fire Bureau .14/thousand
3. Portland Public Schools .74/thousand

These additions increase the total property tax rate for 2011 to $22.41/thousand assessed value. That translates into an average Portland property tax increase of $256 from 2010 to 2011.

The average 2011 $164,175 Portland assessed value property will automatically increase to $169,100 in 2012. That translates into an automatic increase of $110 per year at the 2011 property tax rate of $22.41/thousand assessed value paid by most Portland property owners without additions.

However, it is almost certain that one or more of the following interest groups will submit bonds or levies to the voters:
Portland Public Schools
Portland Parks And Recreation
Multnomah County Library
Metropolitan Arts Group
Portland Community College
Oregon Historical Society
Metro
Port of Portland
City of Portland
Multnomah county
Tri-Met
Other?

All of the Portland city council candidates supported the Historical Society bond, the Fire Bureau bond, with the notable exception of Amanda Fritz, as well as the PPS bond and levy. In addition to the automatic 3% rise in assessed value they were willing to raise Portlanders' property taxes by an additional $2.93/thousand assessed value in 2011. Supporting that same level of increase in 2012 would result in a property tax rate of $25.34/thousand and an average property tax increase of $495.

So the question arises: How much of an increase in property tax rates will you support in 2012?

Keep the following in mind. There has been no cost of living adjustment to fixed income social security checks for 2010 and 2011. Social security and other low-income households with incomes of $2000/month living in an average Portland property with an assessed value of $169,100, at a $25.34 rate, in 2012 would pay $4,285 or 17.9% of their income on property tax. Whereas an elected official with a compensation package of $10,000/month would pay only 3.6% of their income on property tax. Households of any size that have an annual income of $25,000 or less qualify for Public Housing with the Public Housing Authority of Multnomah County.

The concept of progressive taxation involves setting low tax rates for low to no income households and increasing the rate proportionally with the rise in household income. Sadly, our congress and president have clearly abandoned this principle. It remains to be seen if the current and future Portland city council will follow their tragic example.

The candidates indicated the following answer:I am willing to raise Portlanders' property taxes by an additional $2.93/thousand assessed value in 2012 - which is the same tax increase I supported in 2011 - that would result in a property tax rate of $25.34/thousand.
Eileen Brady, Charlie Hales, Mary Nolan, Amanda Fritz ($25.20/thousand.), Steve Novick
[Richard Ellmyer - Opposes any increases in property taxes above the automatic 3% increase in assessed value for the next two years.]

Elections are about choices. Unfortunately, the current choices for change, Eileen Brady, Charlie Hales, Amanda Fritz, Mary Nolan and Steve Novick share the same socioeconomic/political class and promote the same public policies and priorities as their predecessors.

So far, we can predict a change in personalities at city hall but NOT public policies.However, we have a long way to go until May 2012. Things could change. But probably not.

P.S.
Readers are encouraged to discuss these issues with candidates as well as elected and appointed public officials and should they discover a change of position to contact me with details so that I can confirm them and then share the results with others.